Secoprezizaane Sesquiterpene Lactones from Illicium micranthum

Three new secoprezizaane sesquiterpene lactones, (1R,2S)‐1,2‐epoxyneomajucin ( 1 ), (2R)‐2‐hydroxyneomajucin ( 2 ), and (2R)‐2‐hydroxymajucin ( 3 ), along with six known compounds ( 4 – 9 ), were isolated from the poisonous shrub Illicium micranthum. Their structures were established by in‐depth analyses of spectroscopic and mass‐spectrometric data.     

Asymmetric Reduction Using Lithium Aluminum Hydride Modified with Chiral Ligands Prepared from (1R)-(-)-β-Pinene

The reduction of prochiral ketones using chiral reducing reagents, prepared from lithium aluminum hydride and (-)-(1R, 2S, 3S, 5R)-10-anilinopinanediol (5) and (-)-(1R, 2S, 3S, 5R)-10-N-methylanilinopinanediol (6), affords chiral secondary alcohols in useful chemical yields (70 ～ 93%) but in low optical purity (8 ～ 33% ee). Modifiers 5 and 6 are synthesized from (lR)-(-)-β-pinene in three steps.     

Backbone extended pyrrolidine PNA (bepPNA): a chiral PNA for selective RNA recognition

Synthesis of cationic, chiral PNA analogues with an extra atom in the backbone (bepPNA) is reported. The (2S,4S) geometry of the pyrrolidine ring, and an additional carbon atom in the backbone of homopyrimidine-bepPNAs resulted in the optimization of the inter-nucleobase distance, such that selective binding to complementary RNA over DNA was observed in the triplex mode. It was evident from circular dichroism studies that oligomers with mixed aminoethylglycyl-bep (aeg-bep) repeating units, and also bepPNA with homogeneous backbone attained structures quite different from those of aegPNA₂:RNA/DNA complexes. The bepPNA, when incorporated in a duplex forming mixed purine-pyrimidine sequence, also showed a preference for binding complementary RNA over DNA.     

Y型分子筛固载(1S,2S)-DPEN-Ru(TPP)2催化苯乙酮不对称加氢

采用自由配体法将(1S,2S)-DPEN(1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethylene-diamine)-Ru(TPP)2(TPP=三苯基膦,triphenylphosphine)配合物封装于NaY沸石分子筛超笼中,制备了(1S,2S)-DPEN-Ru(TPP)2/Y主客体材料(1S,2S)-DPEN=1,2-二苯基-1,2-乙二胺).采用等离子体发射光谱ICP、粉末X射线衍射(XRD)、紫外光谱(UV-Vis)、氮吸附等物理化学手段对所制备材料进行了表征.结果表明,(1S,2S)-DPEN-Ru(TPP)2配合物封装于Y型分子筛超笼中保持了原有的物理化学性能;作为苯乙酮不对称加氢催化剂,在优化条件下,苯乙酮的转化率可达100%,(R)-苯乙醇的对映体过量值(ee值)可达61.0%.该催化剂具有良好的稳定性和重复使用性.     

Chirality Control by Substituents in the Asymmetric Addition of Et_2Zn to Aromatic Aldehydes Catalyzed by cis-(1 R,2S)-2- Benzamidocyclohexanecarboxylic Acid Derived 1,3-Aminoalcohols

A series of novel optically active 1,3‐aminoalcohols based on cis‐(1R,2S)‐2‐benzamidocyclohexanecarboxylic acid and trans‐(1R,2R)‐2‐benzamidocyclohexanecarboxylic acid were synthesized and used in the asymmetric diethylzinc addition to aromatic aldehydes. Not only the enantioselectivity but also the stereochemistry of the product were controlled by the N‐substituents and the substituents on the vicinity carbon to hydroxyl group of the cis‐derivatives.     

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of platinum(II) complexes with chiral N-monosubstituted 1,2-cyclohexyldiamine derivatives as the carrier groups

Eight platinum(II) complexes with the new chiral ligands, (1R,2R)-N ¹-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (R) or (1S,2S)-N ¹-(pyridine-2-ylmethyl) cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (S) as the carrier groups were designed, synthesized, and spectrally characterized. All platinum(II) complexes showed much better aqueous solubility than cisplatin and oxaliplatin. In vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds against human HepG-2, MCF-7, A549, and HCT-116 cell lines was evaluated. Results indicate that all compounds with R as the carrier group showed cytotoxicity against HCT-116, A549, and MCF-7 cell lines; however, all compounds with S as carrier group exhibited disappointing cytotoxicity against tested cell lines. Compound R2, bearing ClCH₂COO^- as leaving group, exhibited better cytotoxicity than that of carboplatin against A549 and MCF-7 cell lines and also showed close activity to oxaliplatin against HCT-116 cell line.     

DNA-, RNA- and self-pairing properties of a pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid with a (2′R,4′S)-prolyl-(1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid backbone

A new pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid (PNA) comprising of an alternate sequence of 4′-nucleobase-modified proline with (2′R,4′S) configuration and a (1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid [(2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA] backbone was synthesized and its DNA-, RNA- and self-pairing properties studied. T_m and CD studies suggested that the (2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA forms antiparallel hybrids to DNA and RNA with high sequence and direction specificity. The stability of these hybrids is comparable to those of the (2′R,4′R)-acpcPNA hybrids previously reported by our group. On the other hand, experiments with a self-complementary sequence indicated that the new (2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA forms a more stable antiparallel self-hybrid than (2′R,4′R)-acpcPNA.     

Synthesis and Asymmetric Enantioselective Addition of Chiral Polybinaphthyl and Polybinaphthol I.igands

Four chiral polymers P-1, P-2, P-3 and P-4 were synthesized by the polymerization of （S）-2,2＇-dioctoxy-1,1＇- binaphthyl-6,6＇-boronic acid （S-M-3） with （S）-6,6＇-dibromo-1,1＇-binaphthol （S-M-1）, （R）-6,6＇-dibromo-1,1＇- binaphthol （R-M-1）, （S）-3,3＇-diiodo-1,1＇-binaphthol （S-M-2） and （R）-3,3＇-diiodo-1,1＇-binaphthol （R-M-2） under Pd-catalyzed Suzuki reaction, respectively. All four polymers can show good solubility in some common solvents due to the nonplanarity of the polymers in the main chain backbone and flexible alkyl groups in the side chain. The analysis results indicate that specific rotation and circular dichroism （CD） spectral signals of the alternative S-S chiral polymers P-1 and P-3 are larger than those of S-R chiral polymers P-2 and P-4, but their UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra are almost similar. The results of asymmetric enantioselectivity of four polymers for diethylzinc addition to benzaldehyde indicate that catalytically active center is （R） or （S）-1, 1＇-binaphthol moieties.     

Total synthesis of (3Z,9Z,6S,7R) and (3Z,9Z,6R,7S)-6,7-epoxy-3,9-octadecadienes

(3Z,9Z,6S,7R)-6,7-epoxy-3,9-octadecadiene (1) and (3Z,9Z,6R,7S)-6,7-epoxy-3,9-octadecadiene (2) have been stereoselectively synthesized in eight steps from 2-pentyn-1-ol with an overall yield of 8%. The key steps involved the Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of (2E)-oct-2-en-5-yn-1-ol (6). The new synthetic method is suitable for multigram-scale preparation of 1 and 2 and might be used for producing sufficient quantities of the sex pheromone components for management of the pest of tea plantations.     

Efficient Synthesis of a Styryl Analogue of (2S,3R,4E)‐N2‐Octadecanoyl‐4‐tetradecasphingenine via Cross‐Metathesis Reaction

The first total synthesis of sphingolipid (2S,3R,4E)‐N²‐octadecanoyl‐4‐tetradecasphingenine ( 1a ), a natural sphingolipid isolated from Bombycis Corpus 101A, and of its styryl analogue 1b was achieved in good overall yield (Schemes 1 and 2). The key step involved the installation with (E) stereoselectivity of a long lipophilic chain or phenyl group on allyl alcohol derivative 3 via a cross‐metathesis reaction (→ 5a or 5b ). The N‐Boc protected 3 was easily accessible from (S)‐Garner aldehyde.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of (R)-Fluoxetine: A Practical Approach Using Recyclable and in-situ Generated Oxazaborolidine Catalyst

A practical route for the synthesis of (R)-fluoxetine•HCl (ee＝96%) in 56% overall yield was described. The key intermediate (R)-3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanol was obtained by the asymmetric reduction of prochiral 3-chloropropiophenone using in-situ generated oxazaborolidine catalyst derived from (S)-α,α-diphenylprolinol. The chiral procatalyst (S)-α,α-diphenylprolinol was recovered quantitatively and recycled. An improved practical synthesis of (S)-α,α-diphenylprolinol was also discussed.     

Asymmetric hydration of alkenes catalyzed by wool‐palladium complex

A wool‐palladium complex has been found to be able to catalyze the asymmetric hydration of 1‐octene to (S)‐(+)‐2‐octanol and 1‐decene to (R)‐(+)‐2‐decanol under 1 atm N₂ and at 70°C. The optical yields were greatly affected by Pd content in wool‐palladium complex, reaction time and so on, when the proper conditions were selected, (S)‐(+)‐2‐octanol and (R)‐(+)‐2‐decanol could be obtained in 83.2 and 75.6%e.e. optical yield respectively. This chiral natural biopolymer‐palladium complex catalyst was very easy to prepare and could be reused several times without appreciable change in catalytic activity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conformational analysis of some 1R,4S‐2‐arylidene‐p‐menthan‐3‐ones by 1H NMR spectroscopy and molecular simulation

Based on ¹H NMR spectral analysis combined with molecular simulation, conformational states of the cyclohexanone ring were studied for some 1R,4S‐2‐(4‐X‐benzylidene)‐p‐menthan‐3‐ones (X = COOCH₃ or C₆H₅) in CDCl₃ and C₆D₆. The co‐existence of chair conformers with an axial orientation of both alkyl substituents and twist‐boat forms was established for the compounds studied at room temperature (22–23° C). The substituent X does not influence appreciably the ratio of these conformers, but the fraction of twist‐boat forms increases noticeably in benzene solutions as compared with CDCl₃ solutions. Rotameric states of the isopropyl fragment were also characterised for the compounds studied. Distinctions in conformational states for the 1R,4S‐2‐arylidene‐p‐menthan‐3‐ones and (?)‐menthone were revealed and are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reversed‐phase liquid chromatographic determination of enantiomers of atenolol in rat plasma using derivatization with Marfey's reagent

An HPLC method was established for enantioseparation of (R,S)‐atenolol (ATE) and determination of enantiomers in rat plasma. Marfey's reagent (1‐fluoro‐2,4‐dinitrophenyl‐5‐L‐alanine amide, FDNP‐L‐Ala‐NH₂, MR) was used as chiral derivatizing reagent with detection of diastereomers at 340 nm. It was shown that the R‐isomer eluted before the S‐isomer. The method was validated for linearity, repeatability, limits of detection and limit of quantification (LOQ). Recovery of ATE at LOQ was 92.8% for (R)‐ATE and 92.6% for (S)‐ATE. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new flavonoid from Cudrania cochinchinensis

Chemical investigation of the ethanol extract of the roots of Cudrania cochinchinensis led to the isolation of a new flavonoid, (6S,12S,13R)-1-methoxy cyanomaclurin (1), together with seven known compounds, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-(3′-hydroxy-3′-methylbutyl)xanthone (2), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-4-prenylxanthone (3), 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone (4), 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone (5), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone (6), resveratrol (7) and oxyresveratrol (8). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and the HR-ESI-MS data. The absolute stereochemistry was deduced via Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄-induced CD and NOESY spectra.     

Standard values of vicinal coupling constants in the assignment of relative configurations and conformational analysis of acyclic chiral carbinols and hydrocarbons

Standard values of vicinal coupling constants are proposed in order to assign relative configuratations and analyse the conformational distribution of acyclic chiral carbinols and hydrocarbons. Thus, the assignment of relative configurations has been achieved for the diastereomeric carbinols, (2R4R, 2S4S)- and (2R4S, 2S4R)-5,5-dimethyl-4-phenyl-2-hexanol and (1R3R, 1S3S)- and (1R3S, 1S3R)-1-mesityl-4,4-dimethyl-3-phenyl-1-pentanol, through the analysis of the respective vicinal coupling constants and the corresponding conformational distribution. The analysis of the vicinal coupling constants allows the establishment of the monoconformational character of the (2R4S, 2S4R) diastereomer in the first case and the (1R3R, 1S3S) diastereomer in the second case.     

Synthesis of isomeric 2-oxazolidinones from (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-and (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols

A synthesis is reported for (4R,5R)-and (4S,5S)-4-hydroxymethyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)oxazolidin-2-ones and (1′R,4R)-and (1′S,4S)-4-[hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]oxazolidin-2-ones from (1R,2R)-and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols. The effect of the experimental conditions on the formation of these compounds was studied. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1562–1570, October, 2007.     

The Stereoselective Synthesis of 2‐Aryl‐2‐hydroxybutanoic Acid via Menthyl Chiral Auxiliaries

In the presence of titanium(IV) tetraethoxide ((EtO)₄Ti), menthyl arylglyoxylates are prepared by transesterification of ethyl arylglyoxylates and natural (−)‐(1R,2S,5R)‐menthol. Using menthyl as a chiral auxiliary, the corresponding novel (R)‐menthyl 2‐aryl‐2‐hydroxybutanoates are synthesized by the addition of Et₂Zn with menthyl arylglyoxylates. The structures of the products are characterized by IR and ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The diastereoselectivities are analyzed by HPLC. The addition reactions are completed with good yields and high diastereoisomeric excess (de up to 95%), and, after hydrolysis, the (R)‐2‐aryl‐2‐hydroxybutanoic acids are obtained with high optical purities.     

Three New Peroxy Triterpene Lactones from Pseudolarix kaempferi

Three new 3(4),9(10)‐disecocycloartane peroxy triterpene lactones, named as pseudolarolides Q₂, T₁, and T₂ ( 1 – 3 , resp.), along with five known triterpenoids, were isolated from the seeds of Pseudolarix kaempferi Gord . Their structures were elucidated to be (9R,10R,16R,23R,25R)‐16,23‐epoxy‐9,10‐epidioxy‐3,4:9,10‐disecocycloart‐1(2)‐ene‐3,4:26,23‐diolide ( 1 ), (1R,9R,10S,16R,23S,25R)‐1,4:16,23‐diepoxy‐9,10‐epidioxy‐3,4;9,10‐disecocycloartan‐26(23)‐olid‐3‐oic acid methyl ester ( 2 ), and (1R,9R,10S,16R,23R,25R)‐1,4:16,23‐diepoxy‐9,10‐epidioxy‐3,4;9,10‐disecocycloartan‐26(23)‐olid‐3‐oic acid methyl ester ( 3 ) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.